Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. If we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology have shown that this formula is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This isn’t just an empty mantra. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research in psychology and neuroscience, management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe.

In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor, who spent over a decade living, researching, and lecturing at Harvard University, draws on his own research—including one of the largest studies of happiness and potential at Harvard and others at companies like UBS and KPMG—to fix this broken formula. Using stories and case studies from his work with thousands of Fortune 500 executives in forty-two countries, Achor explains how we can reprogram our brains to become more positive in order to gain a competitive edge at work.

Isolating seven practical, actionable principles that have been tried and tested everywhere from classrooms to boardrooms, stretching from Argentina to Zimbabwe, he shows us how we can capitalize on the “happiness advantage” to improve our performance and maximize our potential. Among the principles he outlines:

• The Tetris Effect: how to retrain our brains to spot patterns of possibility, so we can see—and seize—opportunities wherever we look

• The Zorro Circle: how to channel our efforts on small, manageable goals, to gain the leverage to gradually conquer bigger and bigger ones

• Social Investment: how to reap the dividends of investing in one of the greatest predictors of success and happiness—our social support network

A must-read for everyone trying to excel in a world of increasing workloads, stress, and negativity, The Happiness Advantage isn’t only about how to become happier at work. It’s about how to reap the benefits of a happier and more positive mind-set to achieve the extraordinary in our work and in our lives.

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Quotes & Awards

“Achor transports us to his virtual classroom, a journey along which we glean the seven secrets of happiness. The Happiness Advantage reveals the most important discoveries coming out of modern psychology.”

Rom Brafman, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Click

“Shawn Achor is funny, self-deprecating, and devastating to my notions of what his field is all about…I’m butter to his knife.”

Boston Globe

“Achor bases his training on a burgeoning body of research on the positive psychology movement, which emphasizes instilling resiliency and positive attitudes.”

Wall Street Journal

Achor transports us to his virtual classroom, a journey along which we glean the seven secrets of happiness. The Happiness Advantage reveals the most important discoveries coming out of modern psychology.Rom Brafman, bestselling co-author of Sway and Click

Shawn Achor is funny, self-deprecating, and devastating to my notions of what his field is all about…. I'm butter to his knife.The Boston Globe

Achor bases his training on a burgeoning body of research on the positive psychology movement, which emphasizes instilling resiliency and positive attitudes….Wall Street Journal

Listener Opinions

Lee | 3/12/2018

" Happiness is everything!!! This book proves its importance:) "

Shahid Raja | 2/14/2014

" The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor is another very powerful book which is a must read for anyone who desires to excel in work or life. Achor puts the conventional wisdom that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful then we will be a happy person, on its head. According to him this formula actually works in reverse; happiness fuels success, not the other way round. Using stories and case studies from his work, Achor has crafted seven principles which explain how we can reprogram our brains to become more positive in order to gain a competitive edge at work. Rather than stressing how to become happier at work, it is a book about how to reap the benefits of a happier and a more positive mind-set to achieve the extraordinary in our work and in our lives. "

Michael | 2/12/2014

" Too often we think that we will be happy after a certain thing happens (graduation, new job, kids are potty trained). The author gives examples through psychological studies on how happiness leads to success in life (however you want to define success) and not the other way around. Then he gives action items that can be done to increase happiness daily. I thought this was a really good book and I recommend it to anyone looking to improve. "

Devin | 2/6/2014

" I'd give it more like 3.5 stars (It'd be 4 stars except he takes entirely too long to really get into the book). I think everyone would find benefit in reading this book. In general this book talks about/advertises for the field of positive psychology. The main point is that success comes from happiness, not the other way around. The book is full of interesting scientific studies that show how small specific behaviors (for example writing down 3 things you are grateful for on a daily basis) do have a huge effect on our overall positivity and productivity. He gives real practical tools to implement to make ourselves more positive and content with life, which will in turn influence those around us. I liked the combination of stories and science that was effective at keeping the book interesting and informative. I took some notes and plan to implement his strategies to improve my own happiness. "

Keith Edwards | 2/6/2014

" A wonderful summary of positive psychology's lessons and suggestions told in a very accessible manner. Achor is a public speaker and trainer and writes with that clarity and directness. He tells great stories full of humor and lessons. "

Kira Mead | 2/2/2014

" Shawn Achor is very smart, and he has some good concepts in this book. Bit heavily focused on how this applies to business, and specifically big corporate businesses. But still good. "

Armand Cognetta | 1/17/2014

" I loved this book. There's a great TED talk by the author if you're looking for a tl;dr. "

Gail Driscoll | 12/28/2013

" Some of it a blinding glimpse of the obvious. But I was able to cull more than a few takeaways. "

Aaron Briggs | 12/14/2013

" Perfect book to read at the turn of the new year. My resolution is to approach my life and work with more active positivity and happiness, and this book provides compelling, researched, practical guidance for creating a personal culture of happiness that can affect everyone I share my life with. "

Sheila | 12/7/2013

" so far, i think it's great. might as well be happy, right? "

Sally | 11/26/2013

" I found this book beyond entertaining and enlightening...it's filled with important information and not just for success at work, but for success and real enduring happiness in life! I highly recommend it! "

Keets | 9/13/2013

" I absolutely recommend - most of the concepts are things that I think we're all aware of in the back of our minds, but it's worth hearing again! "

Martin | 6/3/2013

" fairly obvious and repetitive. A few good references to key research. "

" This book is not your typical "be happy" book. The book goes through real data and examples on how being happy helps foster success. "

Torstein Skarra | 2/23/2013

" Fantastic! Need to be read and reflected upon, as it is something we think we know and are good at, while we mostly act differently. Following the principles might be harder than one thinks, but the reward is beyond what one can imagine! "

Julienna | 1/14/2013

" MUST READ BOOK If you care about being and remaining happy!!! Intuitive principles that create happiness backed up scientifically. "

Jesse | 10/29/2012

" Pretty good. I liked all the anecdotes and examples, kept this book light and easy to become engaged with. It did slow down a bit towards the end. But I think that Achor's writing style is very accessable by the layman. "

Sarah | 7/24/2012

" I like positive psychology but this book was a little fluffy. "

Blaine | 5/8/2012

" I listened to this audio book after seeing the author's TED talk online. I enjoyed the book so much that I've bought my own copy. There are some really great ideas in this book about simple, concrete things you can do to make yourself a happier person. And who doesn't want that? "

Danielle Raine | 10/14/2011

" The science behind the reasons to be happy. (And how!) Eye-opening and fun read. "

Julie Baylor | 10/3/2011

" I loved the scientific approach this book takes toward a topic many people feel is subjective. I highly recommend this book whether for business, teaching, coaching or parenting. It is very well written and well organized. "

Anne | 8/5/2011

" Helpful summary of positive psychology. I'm all jazzed to try some of his simple ideas to be grateful, optimistic and joyful. Quick to read and good follow up to The Happiness Project. "

Mert | 6/13/2011

" Very well written book about positive thinking. I learned lots of useful ideas. "

Rob | 5/2/2011

" This book takes several "common sense" ideas, and even several gospel principles, and provides some very interesting data/studies to back them up.
"

Christoffer | 4/2/2011

" A good book with some good points. Well worth the read.
"

Travis | 12/27/2010

" Fantastic read, don't let the title fool you into thinking this is just a happy go lucky kind of book. The specific psychological studies cited and discussed make this more of an evidenced backed look on why making a choice to be happy is the secret to success.
"

Anu | 12/12/2010

" Happiness leads to success.happy people are more successful.
"

Jason | 12/1/2010

" Surprisingly interesting and informative. Worth the read.
"

Melody | 11/11/2010

" Everyone should read this book. The science behind the benefit of happiness is incredible and inspiring. Happiness leads to success not the other way around. This book is transformative!
"

About the Author

Shawn Achor is the winner of more than a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University, where he delivered lectures on positive psychology in the most popular class at Harvard. He has become one of the world’s leading expert on the connection between happiness and success. His research on happiness made the cover of Harvard Business Review, his TED talk is one of the most popular all time, and his lecture airing on PBS has been seen by millions. Currently he teaches for the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School, and collaborates on research with Yale and Columbia University.

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